A.  The legislature hereby finds all of the following:

(1)  States are required to implement provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, comprised of Public Laws 111-148 and 111-152, relative to Medicaid recovery audit contractors.

(2)  The recovery audit function is a useful tool for improving Medicaid program integrity and ensuring that public monies are used for appropriate and necessary healthcare services.

(3)  Healthcare providers are subject to numerous audits from the state and federal health agencies and reviews by Medicaid managed care companies which result in increased administrative costs that raise costs to all healthcare consumers.

B.  The legislature hereby declares that simplifying and standardizing Medicaid recovery audit functions is necessary and  in the best interest of this state.  Therefore, the purpose of this Subpart is to provide for greater Medicaid program integrity by establishing a standardized recovery audit contractor program.

Acts 2014, No. 568, §1, eff. Aug. 15, 2014.